The Good Life Groundhog Day Essay Example For Students

The Good Life Groundhog Day Essay What is the good life? As a child I believed that the definition of a good life was one in which I finished college, got a good job and went on to raise a family. It would be a life without hardships or conflict, filled with nothing but contentment and joy. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that a good life was more than that because living meant more than just a preconceived notion of a good life. I think the meaning of what a good life is can be found in Alasdair McIntyre, a Scottish philosopher, claim that â€Å"the good life for man is the life spent in seeking for the good life for man, and the virtues necessary for seeking are those by which will enable us to understand what more and what else the good life for man is†. There is no better way to grasp what he is saying than by analyzing the fantastical movie Groundhog Day. Phil Connors, the lead character in the movie, is a TV weatherman who goes to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day event. We will write a custom essay on The Good Life Groundhog Day specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now When Phil tries to leaves after completing his assignment he finds he can’t and that he is now stuck in a time loop where he is subjected to living out the day of February 2 over and over again. At first Phil is portrayed as a sort of Machiavellian character. He detaches himself not only from conventional morality but from society as well. He makes statements throughout the beginning of the moving showing just how cynical his views are about people as a whole. As the time loop begins Phil dives into all the vices he can possible imagine, including robbing an armored truck and deceiving woman in order to have sexual relations with them but as time draws on Phil realizes that his actions are not giving him a sense of pleasure any longer and at this point he attempts to connect with Rita Hanson, the news producer that has accompanied him on his assignment. He tries to become the man he believes Rita wants by acting out the virtues and characteristics she values but the attempt ends with Rita slapping him. At this point in the movie Phil still didn’t understand that the act of being virtuous is more than just the act of being virtuous. You have to embrace the belief and values behind the act otherwise you are being insincere and dishonest. As the movie progresses we begin to see a different man emerge. Phil starts to live out a purpose filled life in which he engages with others around him. He becomes an active part in society and he realizes the things he placed as important no longer are, like his fame, because at the end of the day all of those things are washed away and he has to begin again the next day like the day before never happened. At the end of the film, one the last day that repeats we see a man who embraces being virtuous, not because he is expected to but because he wants to. He wakes up and starts his day trying to be a better man than he was the day before, not for others or to end the curse but for himself and for the feeling of contentment he receives in being a better man. The result is that the curse finally ends. Was that the lesson the universe trying to teach Phil? Is it the same thing that MacIntyre claims? That to live a good life is more than just about fame and money, it’s about connecting with others and seeking out virtues that not only better ourselves but better those around us. But it’s more than that, we also have to embrace the beliefs behind the virtues we seek, not just simply committing the act of being virtuous. So ask yourself this, do you attempt to live a better life every morning you wake or do you simply move forward through life doing as you believe others expect you to and not what is necessary to living a truly good life?

Weak Electrolyte Definition and Examples

Weak Electrolyte Definition and Examples A weak electrolyte is an electrolyte that does not completely dissociate in  aqueous  solution. The solution will contain both ions and molecules of the electrolyte. Weak electrolytes only partially ionize in water (usually 1% to 10%), while strong electrolytes completely ionize (100%).   Weak Electrolyte Examples HC2H3O2 (acetic acid), H2CO3 (carbonic acid), NH3 (ammonia), and H3PO4 (phosphoric acid) are all examples of weak electrolytes. Weak acids and weak bases are weak electrolytes. In contrast, strong acids, strong bases, and salts are strong electrolytes. Note a salt may have low solubility in water, yet still be a strong electrolyte because the amount that does dissolve completely ionizes in water. Acetic Acid as a Weak Electrolyte Whether or not a substance dissolves in water is not the determining factor in its strength as an electrolyte. In other words, dissociation and dissolution are not the same things. For example, acetic acid (the acid found in vinegar) is extremely soluble in water. However, most of the acetic acid remains intact as its original molecule rather than its ionized form, ethanoate (CH3COO-). An equilibrium reaction plays a big role in this. Acetic acid dissolves in water an ionizes into ethanoate and the hydronium ion, but the equilibrium position is to the left (reactants are favored). In other words, when ethanoate and hydronium form, they readily return to acetic acid and water: CH3COOH H2O ⇆ CH3COO- H3O The small amount of product (ethanoate) makes acetic acid a weak electrolyte rather than a strong electrolyte.

Company analysis of Qatar Airways Research Paper

Company analysis of Qatar Airways - Research Paper Example Managing involves five functions planning, organizing, staffing, lending as well as making decisions on how to come up with suitable implementation actions and reorganizing decisions as well as, actions by making healthful changes. Companies effectively subdivide organizations into various departments that work as processes this can be done by structuring chains of company’s authority as well as, responsibilities, and with this can facilitate successful performance of employees within the departments to attain company’s goals. Antitrust policy involves government methods of preventing the acquisition and administering of the monopoly power by promoting competition in the market space. The acts that got enacted in the antitrust policy may be purposely meant to avoid mergers that decreased the number of companies in a single industry. Mergers can be connected with antitrust regulators due to companies’ way of bulging price-fixing charges by merging into one firm. T he merger could have promoted better management and come up with economies of scale that could decrease costs and improve the quality of the output. These mergers out do other acquisitions where the merging partners have no evident correlation... Qatar Airways have achieved their goal of reaching the peak of airlines industry in the world with the help of implementing their core values of dedication towards providing service to their customers. The growth of Qatar Airways has been the outcome of providing excellent on-board services and products added with operational excellence of the company. Qatar Airways have able to acquire the confidence of its passengers as it was adjudged the airlines company for consecutive years in 2011 and 2012 in the prestigious industry audit by Skytrax. Under able leadership and strategic implementation of policies in line with the vision and mission statements, Qatar Airways have achieved an outstanding growth of 30% year after year in their operational routes. The unparallel services of Qatar Airways include the operation of most modern fleets in the world today, providing a five star ambience in travel. The company had launched an official website where it maintains transparency on the flight fare, planning of journeys and booking of online tickets to collection of baggage. Qatar Airways considers corporate social responsibility as an integral part of its business and has taken fuel research beyond the practices of industry (Qatar Airways, 2013). With this, the company has been able to give back to the societies and environment to which they cater. Qatar Airways has been working to reduce the effect of aviation on the global climate, local air quality, noise and no-renewable energy, waste and thereby contributed to protecting the global environment. Identification of stakeholders As Qatar Airways has expanded its operations and established a global presence,

Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach - Essay Example They are not in any way inferior or less powerful than the male race. In fact, in the book, it expresses a desire to look at gender without attaching certain and specific roles to it. Women don’t have to be born with an already fixed set of actions and functions in the society that are expected of them. Women can now do what all men can. The book additionally points out that when it is said that women should have more power in the society than what they have now, it clearly also expresses that they do not overpower the men either. As a response to this notion of absolute equality of gender, I personally think that this should truly be the case in a better world. Both men and women should be given equal opportunities, and roles should not be attached to their gender so as to not limit them from the work or functions they might want to have in the society. Who is to say that women should be the one to stay at home and do the household chores while the men should be the one to work and earn the money for the family? Who is to say that women are incapable of performing certain jobs than men, that women may not be as strong or as powerful as men? Today, we are already seeing changes that are moving towards gender equality. More and more women are now becoming more empowered. Compared to the olden times, we are now seeing a significant change in the way people perceive gender and the roles that play around them in the society. Less and less functions and responsibilities are limited and are expected now for each ge nder. With the onset of the age of modernity, people are now starting to realize that with gender equality comes a better world. There is no longer any prejudice or discrimination for both genders, and people are no more liberated to do what they want to do without being condemned or hindered. Although we still see today that men and women are still not completely equal in the society as

The logical system of the mind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The logical system of the mind - Essay Example Suppose instead that we deny that the mind is some mysterious substance, and we hold instead that there are only mental events and that "the mind" designates no more than a series of mental events We can still inquire about the relation between mind and body in a different way, in terms of the relation between mental events and physical events. We can ask: Are mental events totally different from physical events, so that you can't explain what mental events are in terms of physical events; or are mental events somehow explainable as being the same as physical events For example, when John feels a pain, a mental event is occurring; now is that pain even possibly the same as something that occurs in John's brain, such as the firing of some special group of neurons Now this question we will examine. The mind-body problem can be introduced more fully with an example. Suppose John decides to walk across the room, whereupon he does in fact walk across the room. ... We might ask: How is it possible that a decision, which is something mental, resulted in something in your brain, which is something physical If we say that the mental and the physical are totally different sorts of things, then how can one have any causal impact on the other How can a mere mental event, a decision, actually cause neurons in my brain to start firing The very idea might seem absurd. On one view , a better description of the situation is this: John's decision is itself a physical event. When John decides to take my trip across the room, a group of neurons fire in his brain. He is not aware of those neurons; but the firing of those neurons is itself just the same as his decision. There isn't any more to the decision than that physical event. So, on the view in question, there's no trouble thinking about how a mental event can have a physical effect; mental events are themselves physical. Ultimately, everything is physical. The mind-body problem is a philosophical problem, and as such it has philosophical solutions. Those solutions lead to the adoption of a point of view about the mind-body problem, which, in turn, leads to a particular way of dealing with the world. Usually, most of us do not think about our own solutions to the mind-body problem, and, sometimes, we may use different solutions at different times. In the Middle Ages, the mind-body problem was not even identified as a problem, and, therefore, the "solution" then was completely confounded, meaning that mind and body were thoroughly bound up together in one complex and confusing bundle. What is the mind-body problem Descartes helped to define it when he noted that if he amputated his foot, he had affected his

Managing Change In Mcdonalds Company Management Essay

Managing Change In Mcdonalds Company Management Essay All organisations that wish to stay in the industry for a large amount of time all have to undergo change in different forms to stay in touch with and to cater to the always changing needs and wants of customers. Some very big examples are the constant promotional burgers that are present at different fast food restaurants such as in McDonalds introducing the Great tastes of America promotion, or Gillette bringing new shaving cream ranges and shaving blades. This constant change is to bring a new product to the market such that it will boost sales. In this report I will discuss different types of change and the background to change such as environmental turbulence and formal versus informal organisations. I will also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the bureaucratic organisation and compare alternative forms of development in their different life cycles. In the second section of the report I will Identify and discuss the stakeholder analysis, develop and analyze approaches for involving appropriate stakeholders in change with the help of tools and systems such as multiple cause diagrams, functional and divisional structure, team development and cultural web. In the final section I will draw up a realistic plan for the realization of change models and their outcomes such as business process re-engineering, learning organisations, Kotters eight stage model which will be most helpful for an effective change of the organisation. I will base my review and analysis on the business of McDonalds and will refer to it regularly. My main analysis will be of a chain of franchises owned by Mr. T Eagle. Background to Change It is very important as mentioned in the introduction for an organisation to regularly introduce change in either management or in the structures and process of the business. This is because of constantly changing environment the business finds itself in. In these times of recession it is important for business to find ways to minimise costs and overheads as much as possible and thus large managerial changes have taken place to remove staff and increase the duties of existing staff as the duties of a few are delegated over a large number or people. This brings us on to the area of environmental turbulence. Environmental turbulence refers to the amount of change and complexity in the environment of a company. [Alexander P. and Daniel J. Power. (2004-06).] A significant change in environmental factors can be considered as advances in technology or changes in governmental regulations. As more factors are taken in to consideration, the level of environmental turbulence increases. For a chain of McDonalds restaurants, current environmental factors are economic recession, the increasing price of fuel prices and the increase in the government taxation policies. The economic recession means that people are spending less as the media has created a fear of a lack of money and therefore people will either eat at McDonalds as it is a choice of choosing the cheaper option or choose to cook at home. To tackle this, a change in the pricing of the food is necessary, and to encourage people to come to McDonalds by portraying an image that it is affordable. Due to increasing fuel prices, the cost of deliveries will increase steeply as will the cost of electricity, thus the overhead costs will increase and therefore a change is needed to tackle this problem. Finally due to the government debt constantly increasing, the only method of acquiring money will be to increase taxation which will affect larger businesses more than it would as compared to individuals and small busin esses. Ongoing change is also necessary to ensure that the strategy fits the structure of the organisation. There are many different types of structures that an organisation can adopt and the strategy that is employed must cohere with the structure to optimise the resources available, which if not the case can lead to underutilization and inefficiency. A formal organisation has advantages such that in a midlife or mature organisation, it helps to keep track and to have a log of actions and reactions. As there are many people, especially in a mature organisation, it is possible to have two individuals who do not converse such as the frontline staff in McDonalds and the regional manager, however in a formal organisation it is easier for the regional manager to see the efficiency of the crew member by checking his or her punctuality, length of breaks, and contribution from comments made by the observations from floor and shift managers. When it comes to changing the organisation it is possible to see who is a better asset in a position where they can be utilised more effectively as compared to someone who is not. An informal organisation is easier to change as it is based on implicit understanding on social norms, and therefore there can be a change in the organisation which can be discussed and put into action immediately unlike that in a formal organisation where everything must be passed down a chain of command which may take time which may prove to be inefficient. However an informal organisation tends to be at the birth or the youth of the business where there are a few people involved in the organisation and harder to imitate in a larger organisation. Bureaucracy is a form of authority using structures and sets of regulations in place to control activity. [Lecture notes, organisational theories]The advantages of a bureaucracy are that the tasks are pre-defined and coordinated such that if a change is brought in it will be easier to implement as it will be pre-defined and the new manager in charge will have to optimise carrying out the task. Also due to its precision, speed and un-ambiguity, it is easier to bring about change as it separates production and decision making such that a change in the middle management or even the upper management will not impact too much on the frontline team. However the disadvantages of a bureaucracy are that is discourages individual growth and initiative as all decisions pre-determined and therefore if a change is brought about in the organisation, each individual must undergo training to their new position and therefore it will increase the overhead costs. There is also a risk of goal displacement taking place which is an inbuilt tendency to focus on means and not ends. [Lecture notes, organisational theories]. This may lead to problems if changes in the organisation take place as it means that Tuckmans Team Development Model From Tuckmans Team development model [Lecture notes, stages of team development], the different stages of development are: Forming Storming Norming Performing Forming This is in the beginning stages of the life cycle and is where people are not committed to the team, there is not much trust and the individuals are not clear what they are supposed to do. To progress to the next step of storming, the group must set a mission and goals, establish roles and must build up a trust between figures. This is where each individual needs to decide if they wish to be a fully committed part of the team. Storming At this stage the roles and responsibilities are articulated and agendas are displayed, however problem solving does not work well and people want to modify the teams mission. Competition is high and people are pushing for position and power. Due to this there is little team spirit and anxiety abounds. To advance from the storming stage to the Norming stage, leader must ask for and expect results, as well as actively support and reinforce team behaviour. The team must buy into objectives and activities and must request and accept feedback. Norming At this stage, success occurs and the team has all resources for doing the job. Appreciation and trust build along with the fact that purposes are well defined. The members self-reinforce team norms and the team is creative. The team gains commitment from all members on direction and goal. To advance from the Norming stage to the performing stage, the team must praise and flatter each other, communicate all the time and share rewards. Commit time to team and delegate freely within the team. The team must also be selective of new member and train to maintain the team spirit. Performing This is the final stage in the team development and it is where members feel very motivated and individual defer to team needs. The team is very efficient and there is little waste and there is a high empathy, trust, openness and support. Individuals take pleasure in the success of the team and there is a big win. System Development The stakeholder analysis is present to address the issue of who is affected by the business and to win their support. When carrying out a stakeholder analysis it is important to identify the stakeholder groups; are they large or small; and how to win their support to carry out the tasks that a business or organisation wishes to carry out. By identifying the most powerful stakeholder groups you can shape your strategy in such a way which will allow you to gain their support. Stakeholder groups can be very large such as customers and employees or very small such as the chief executive or an important investor. Each stakeholder may have a different power which can be generally divided into four different areas; Position power Resource power Personal powers Expert powers Gaining support from powerful resources you can gain more resources allowing working more efficiently. Also involving stakeholders in change of the organisation is also beneficial as if you let them know your ideas and your plans early and they agree to the strategy, there is a likely chance that they will actively support you as they will understand the benefits of the change. It will also allow you to anticipate their reaction and allow you to make adjustments to your current plan of action to ensure that you win their support. [MindTool. (1995).] Targets not agreed and vague Low job satisfaction Staff employed on minimum wage Targets not communicated down the chain of command accurately Store targets not met Crew Members too friendly with the manager Store manager present for too long Not many chances of promotion for staff Store manager cannot discipline crew members as they have built a relationship Too many staff arriving late as no fear of manager Poor effort from crew members and middle-management Increase staff turnover and so increased training costs Low sales and poor service from staff From the Multiple cause diagram it can be observed that the problem here lies in the fact that the manager of the store has been present too long and therefore a change in the store manager will bring about an increased efficiency in the work force. Performance reviews will allow the store manager to make decisions on which employees to promote or give a pay rise to as it will encourage those employees to stay. Also the store manager should make clear the targets for all shift managers and floor managers such that they can also pass these targets on clearly, and so the targets of the business owners are met by all staff at every level. Thus the appropriate stake holders that would be involved are the floor managers and the crew. As they will have to respond positively to the change in the management, and thus the owner of the franchised McDonalds must address and communicate with all levels of staff and ensure that they understand why the change has been made as a majority of staff may be bitter to see the store manager leave. Other stake holders may include the technicians and engineers who have built a relationship with the previous store manager, and to encourage them to continue to work appropriately. The resources will be unchanged regardless of the change in store manager, and thus they will not be a major stake holder that will be approached prior the change. Implementation The current system of McDonalds is based on a regulated set of relationships, and the upper management in this situation are content with current targets and therefore will not strive to increase sales or address areas where work is needed. Interacting between the kitchen crew members and the front of house crew members is strained and the kitchen crew members feel underappreciated and cannot ask anyone for help and therefore there is a current lack of commitment to the business. Also there is no structure in the management of the McDonalds in question and therefore there are certain managers which will run around taking orders from crew members and other managers who will only shout if it is to get busy and take a very backseat role, leaving crew members unaided in times of need. EEmploy a Regional Manager which will look after the stores in one area to analyse where the problem lies in each store separately and to see how it can be improved. Analyse the strength of managers to see if their qualities can be utilised better in a different store. CChange the store managers around such that they will be managing another store in the chain. If there is a store manager that has proved to under achieve constantly then address the issue and either send them to a popular store or closer to the CEO office such that the problems the manager has can be observed. CCarry out regular crew development programs such that aspiring managers from the current crew can be noted and trained. Altering and changing relationships can only occur when there is a change in the management of the business to such an extent that current power figures are still seen as present powers, however even they should feel they are not free in the sense that they do not have to perform. Thus changing the store manager in this situation and allowing a regional manager to help control all of the franchises will help the CEO to keep a better eye on the restaurant. As the store manager has no relationship with the current team of staff, he will remain faithful to the CEO. Thus as the CEO has a divisional structure over his restaurants, he can change managers around between stores and therefore, they remain loyal and trustworthy to the CEO, which will mean there is a larger team that works hard for the CEO which he can rely on to boost sales. Also this will change the flow of information and allow the CEO who is also the owner of the franchise to gain the information of performances from staff from several different sources and therefore will be able to assess the management situation between his stores regularly. Thus it will allow the stores to be organised around outcomes and not around the tasks that are carried out. Also if parallel activities such as kitchen crew and front counter crew members are trained to carry out both tasks, it will allow the integration of results such that a larger understanding of the difficulties that either side experience. This re-organisation will allow the geographically dispersed resources to be treated as centralised and will allow the CEO to take decisions for his chain of franchises as a whole and individually much more clearly and faster, thus optimising results and in essence his profit. Kotters Eight Stage Process [http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_82.htm] Create a sense of urgency A sense of urgency needs to be created inside the organisation. This is the first and most crucial step. The shift managers, the floor managers and even the long term crew members must want a change in the restaurant. Honest discussions must be made about which managers the crew and other managers feel comfortable working with and where is there a need to change the managers and if so how. Support must be requested by the regional manager to start the process for change. Creating a guiding coalition The leaders in the organisation must be identified in each store and these key people must be committed to the regional manager and support the change. Team building for change coalition is compulsory, and as with all great teams, there must be a range of different backgrounds and skills that each individual will bring to this team. Develop a vision and strategy Create a strategy for central values and vision and make sure that the coalition knows the change vision and believes in the vision such that they all believe that it can be achieved. The values are central for change and for the future of the organisation. Communicating the change vision The vision needs to be talked about often and it must be applied to all operations in the McDonalds stores and in the chain of command. The concerns and anxieties of each individual must be addressed and dealt with in the best and the most appropriate method possible. The change must be lead by example. Remove obstacles Identify or hire managers whose main role is to deliver the change. Reward and praise those who ensure that change is taking place and inversely identify those who are obstructing the change and either help them see what is needed or remove the barriers quickly. Generating short-term wins Create short term targets such as 100% scores on the gap buster, or improve sales on each day from last year, where there is little room for failure. After every win analyse what went right and where improvements can be made. Ensure that every win is rewarded. Anchor new approaches in the culture Talk of change success stories and in support of companys leaders. Include the change ideals when hiring or training staff, and ensure that key members of the coalition are recognised and their contributions are remembered. Finally creating plans to replace key leaders of change as they move on will help ensure that their legacy is not forgotten. Conclusion In conclusion, all organisations that wish to stay in the industry for a large amount of time all have to undergo change in different forms to stay in touch with and to cater to the always changing needs and wants of customers as I stated in my introduction. In my opinion, and using the evidence stated in this report, it will be most effective to improve results and to gain a larger profit to bring about a change in the business as it will increase efficiency and encourage greater team morale of all the employees. If the steps for bringing about change in the implementation are employed then ongoing change can be sustained if Kotters eight stage process is utilised.

Americas Downward Spiral Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

America's Downward Spiral In recent years, the economy in the United States has been in what most would see as a recession. American people differ in the way they react to a recession. Some, such as Michael Moore, feel it becomes a downward spiral as big business and it’s stockholders gain more money and power, and it’s workers gain less money and stability. With a loss of stability for the American worker there is a fear of losing their health benefits, social security, pension plan, and most of all, their job. Moore’s reaction to this big business take over was to create several documentaries, Roger and Me, Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint, and The Big One. Along with Moore’s reaction to this recession there were several authors who printed pieces describing things such as; downward mobility, wilding, starvation, poverty, and homelessness. In Moore’s documentaries he targeted big tycoons such as Roger Smith of GM, Phil Knight of Nike, and companies like Johnson Controls. All of these companies have something in common, greed and money! He dug up the facts on all of th...

Hidden Violence Essay

The word gang-everyone knows what it means or what it stands for. Of course by the time children get to the end of their elementary years they’ve heard of know gangs such as; the Cribs, Bloods, Latin Kings, Vatos Locos, but none of those names cause as much fear and terror as the gang called La Mara Salvatrucha aka MS-13. La Mara known for their psychotic methods of killing and running their turf, no other gang comes close to causing the same fear as La Mara Salvatrucha (ms-13gang.com). Forced to abandon their home land due to the civil war in El Salvador, the adventure to the U.S. was good at the start but soon the odds turned against them. Therefore for their protection they were forced to start was today is known as the most dangerous gang of the world La Mara Salvatrucha (National Geographic). A simple face-off between El Salvador’s government and guerrilla groups began the civil war of 1980 in El Salvador. The civil war killed 75,000 people and left 8,000 missing and another million or so homeless. The war was known for the government’s massacres and its Death Squad’s killing of civilians, nuns and priests (bookrag.com). This led many Salvadorians to search for a better life, many of whom came to America for their fresh beginning. A group of refugees in Pico Union, California had to get used to their new home, not knowing that by escaping the war in El Salvador they had just jumped right into a new one against the LA street gangs. Immigrate parents working endless sifts providing no parental supervision; young Salvadorian children were being raised by the streets of LA. After being beaten, stabbed, and harassed by the rest of the LA street gangs, a group of refugees decided to form a strong hold or as it is called in Salvador, a Mara. They said, â€Å"If these guys want violence we’ll show them violence† keep in mind that these refugees had a good knowledge of what violence was as well as having previous military training (ms-13gang.com). Then came the day when they said enough is enough it is time to take a stand, and the infamous MS-13 was formed. Born in LA in the 1980’s, expanding to parts of Canada, Spain, England, and Germany becoming bigger and dangerous day by day. La Mara can now be found in Washington D.C, Oregon, Alaska, Arkansas, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida just alone in the United States. In Central America they can be found in El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and several other Latin countries. MS-13 is considered to be one of the most dangerous and organized in the world (altereddimensions.net).There are two ways to get into the gang. For males one is to get jumped in, which means the new recruit is surround by numerous members and beaten for at least 13 seconds. The other way is by killing either an enemy gang member or just a simple killing. For females there is a third option which is to get having sexual intercourse with several MS members or as they call it gang banged. MS-13 has many similar criminal characteristics as other gang such as: smuggling drugs, people, and weapons. The biggest difference with MS-13 is the willingness to use brutality in all their activities (keysaferschools.com). All of the MS-13 activities were kept low-profile very well. Unlike many gang which us guns, knives, and ropes to hang their victims, La Mara Salvatrucha uses machetes, which have become their weapon of choice (ms-13gang.com). From the start gang members only wore white, gray, and blue colors mostly colors token from El Salvador’s flag. Using a weapon such as the machete is pretty insane right? Well they went all out with this weapon not just slicing n dicing all their enemies but also just by smacking their brains out with the machetes. Let’s get to the gang signs they throw up when representing their hood. Using one hand where they stick out the pinky finger as well as the index finger letting the thumb cross over the other two fingers that are cured into the palm. Another gang sign is using both hands having both index fingers and thumbs out, extending the two fingers between the index and the pinky half way out still cured also on both hands which leaves the pinky h idden on the side last thing is to join the pinky knuckles together also having the ring fingers touch. This powerful symbolism a fearing sight to experiences, both representing devil horns are yet another hint why these guys are considered to be, if not the most, at least one of the top dangerous gangs in the world (mahalo.com). Representing their hood is so important to them that they use their own faces to rep their hood. MS members tattooing them-self all over the body especially on the face, with signs such as, MS-13, 666, and X III in big letters and fonts too. All their tattoos are gothic which simply means something very dark spirited, members will most commonly have 666 tatted on their body (ms-13gang.com). Stacking, some call it a type of dance to gangs it is just another type of language used to tell the other gangs they are MS-13 and that this is their turf. Not only do they claim their territory and rep their hood, but also around non-members, police, and enemy gangs stacking is used as their secret code language. The reason that some people think of stacking being a type of dance is because basically it uses the whole body moving in a redeem following behind hand motions. Starting out in California, soon after their members were being deported back to their home countries right after El Salvador’s civil war ended (altereddimensions.com). Police force in their native country not being suited to face off against MS-13’s level of brutality had no way to control or restrain them, and MS-13 began to grow extremely all over El Salvador. Not wanting to attract too much police attention they decide to move to their neighboring country, Honduras. Honduras a very significant act of the MS-13’s reign of terror along with a period filled with fear and anxiety for Hondurans. The Gang Slaughter of La Mara Salvatrucha on a bus with six children and twenty-two adults left a huge impact in the eyes of many. Suspected gang members armed with assault rifles cruelly sprayed a bus full with h oliday shoppers in the city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras. One of the suspected gang members was arrested in the same area just hours after the horrific action found with two assault rifles, two pistols, and ammunition in his vehicle. Another two where found just 10 miles away from San Pedro Sula two days after (altereddimensions.net). Only these three arrested suspects were linked to MS-13. As for the rest of the sad people who joined in this satanic act are believed that they were going through inanition for La Mara Salvatrucha. Yet again MS-13 attracting much attention from the Honduran authorities, they decided to move again but this time they don’t move together they spread like crazy (ms-13gang.com). Then the world wide spread started from this point on, migrating back to the United States to rejoin their soldiers left behind, and spreading over Central America as well as in parts of Europe and Asia. Up until 2002 no police department had any solid information on La Mara Salvatrucha. That’s until a brave young lady Brenda Paz spoke out against the infamous MS-13 on a search for a new start (mahalo.com). At only 16 years of age Brenda wanted to take a stand and try to stop what today is classified as an organized crime. At the time Brenda had just got paginate by the leader in her area which he knew nothing about. For almost six months she was under protection provided by the government but due to her pregnancy she left the area to get some air and have open space. Just soon after in 2003 she was found dead in Virginia-she was six months pregnant. Her body was found under a bridge in Shenandoah County. Stabbed 13 times all over the body this is just another act of La Mara Salvatrucha to show they are for real (altereddimensions.net). Several MS-13 members have been accused of the killing, Brenda who was helping authorities from at least six states investigate the gang was a great lost for the police force as well. In most case MS-13 members feel great pride when carrying out violent actions because to them it’s the crazier, most violent, and originally that gets them more resp ect with the gang, ranking up in other words. Imagine a little snow ball, what happens to the tiny thing when rolled around a few times? It grows tremendously right, yeah exactly correct. The more and more you roll it the bigger it gets. That’s how La Mara Salvatrucha started out as a simple little snow ball and look at it now, seems to me that it hasn’t stopped rolling yet and never will. Their first enemy 18 street a Mexican gang in Cali, the LAPD, the FBI and many more couldn’t stop them, what makes you think anyone can! People just stay clear of the streets avoid crossing with gangs and If you hear of MS-13 near you just stay inside. MS-13 has no respect to anyone other than their own and will let their full fury out on anyone who crosses in their way. N.p.: n.p., 1999. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. . N.p.: SparTech Software, 1998-2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. . Logan, Samuel. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. . N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. . N.p.:  © National Geographic Channel, 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. .

In the play Capulet wants Juliet to have a good life Essay

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic 16th century Shakespearean love story set in the Italian city of Verona. The life of a father and daughter in our lifetime at the moment would vary considerably from the one Capulet and Juliet lead in the play. In the 16th century women were expected to do many things for men. Men’s expectations for women in the 16th century were that they cleaned the house looked after the children and were treated as second class citizens. Men expected women to obey them and do anything they say if the women disobeyed the men they would subject to punishment in the version of getting hit in those days because there wasn’t strict law and order in those days. So if a women married a man they would become the sole property of their husband. In the 16th century the father was the man of the household who would finalise everything. When they’re daughter was around 14 the father would chose who she would be married to, but as in the play some daughters didn’t feel that their fathers choice was correct and if they turned down his offer they would also be subject to punishment. The rejection of their father’s choice would also make their fathers feel hurt because his daughter had rejected his offer of happiness, the father also feels that his daughter is not proud of her parents and doesn’t thank them. In the play Capulet wants Juliet to have a good life and thinks he’s chosen the right type of man for his daughter . He believes that Paris will give her a stable life. Increase the reputation of his family because Paris has class and is a well-known celebrity who when people know he is part of the Capulet clan and Capulet’s son in law they will like Capulet better. As well as that and the money that Paris earns he believes that Paris is a respectable man of society. That he will also take care of his daughter, e. g. if she is sad he will make her happy and comfort her if she is scared, he will make her feel safe and secure in her home and environment. So all in all he thinks that he has chosen a peach of a man who is respected in aspects of his criteria for his daughter. I believe that in the play Capulet wants his daughter to marry Paris because he feels out of love for his daughter that he has found the right person for his daughter who will take care of her and tend to her when she is sick. Plus love her like he does, but as well as this he also chose Paris who is a very wealthy and popular well-known business man, rather than that his family is at war with the Montague family and would like a celebrity backing to increase his chance of winning. Capulet feels it is tradition at the time for him to select supposedly the lucky man to marry his daughter and when he does this he also expects Juliet to be pleased that he has chosen her such an admirable husband. He hopes that Juliet will feel the same way he does and that it is someone who will care for her and make sure she is given the best love and affection around. In parts of Romeo and Juliet you see the examples of Capulet being a loving and caring father. One of these parts is in Act 1, Scene 2, line 7-11 when Capulet says † My child is yet a stranger in the world, she has not seen the change of 14 years, let two more summers wither in her pride ere we may think her ripe to be a bride†. This shows that he is loving because he is saying to Paris she is only young and just turned 14 give her two more years and you can marry her. Although he says this to Paris when his daughter disagrees with his choice he doesn’t accept her reason or anything he just keeps having a go at her. Whatever reason Juliet gives her father will not accept her reason and keeps forcing her to chose Paris. In conclusion I believe that in the 16th century daughter, father relationships were very different from nowadays. Nowadays the daughter has the freedom to do as she pleases apart from in some certain religions where the marriage is organised between 2 people before they can walk. So in most of the world today women have a free right but in some areas they have stuck to the old fashion way of arrange marriages.

Capital Punishment A deterrent to violent crime essays

Capital Punishment A deterrent to violent crime essays Capital punishment is perhaps the most widely debated issue of criminal justice in the United States. Many are for this punishment, citing as their primary reason that it is a deterrent for violent crime. Others argue that inadequate police investigation and court representation, as well as general unfairness in administering the punishment, precludes the deterring factor. Life imprisonment has been cited as an equal, yet less barbaric, punishment for capital crimes. Support for the death penalty has dropped drastically in the last few decades. While the majority still supports the punishment, several issues should be considered carefully before jumping at capital punishment as the maximum solution to Studies cited by Grant show that the capital punishment system is often far from fair in terms of minority groups and the poor. Statistics from the 1920s to the 1960s for example show that unpopular groups such as the poor and Negroes are disproportionate recipients of the death penalty. This was especially the case when victims of murders or rape were white. The Supreme Court thus found the punishment too severe in the light of the fact that life imprisonment was an equally severe option. In terms of the poor, an innocent defendant without the funds to afford the same representation as the rich, is more likely to be convicted unfairly. In most such cases there would not be any further investigation into the authenticity of submitted evidence. The entire justice system then disadvantages those without adequate funds to afford the best Grant emphasizes the need to identify the goal of the justice system in order to determine the adequacy of its manifestations. The heart of the debate over the capital punishment issue thus lies in the purpose of the justice system as defined by the debaters. Grant states that the majority of Americans sees the justice syste...

Schools & Society Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Schools & Society - Research Paper Example Family is universally accepted as the basic unit of society. Hence in understanding culture, studying family life is important. Specifically, the study centres on family structure, roles, and ideals. Similarly, studying their holidays and festivals is also important, because this manifests their beliefs and values. In fact, holidays which could be religious, political, or cultural in nature are observed because people find some things important, memorable, or sacred on them. The primary interest of the study here is to understand the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ in order to know their beliefs. Lastly, studying their language is also important because this manifests the diversity of the culture and the origin of the people. Here, the study generally centres on the questions of ‘what’, ‘who’, and ‘from where’. B. Two Cultures Studied 1. South Asian Indian Culture India, as described in India’s official government portal, M y India My Pride (2012)– a secondary source for the study of the Indian culture – is among the world’s oldest civilizations with rich culture and heritage it has gained from its more than 4000 years of existence. Comprised of 28 states and seven territories, India, according to a secondary source for the study of the Indian culture, Zimmerman (2013), is unsurprisingly South Asia’s largest single nation. Its society is sharply hierarchical, known for its caste system. Hierarchy, as explained by Jacobson (2004) – the primary source for the study of the Indian culture, is determined mainly by gender and age. Hence, the male is higher than the female and the older male is higher than the younger male. Hierarchy is very evident not only in caste groups but even in family and kinship groups. It is based on this hierarchy that family members are accorded with respect. The high regard of Indian family in hierarchy makes family in India more fascinating. Fa mily life. Traditional Indian family structure is best described as closely knitted, extended, and patriarchal. Indians regard the family to mean not only the father, mother, and siblings as commonly understood, but also their grandparents with all of them living under the same roof, working, sharing common income, eating, celebrating, and worshipping together. As the family further expands they divide into smaller units and become joint families continuing the same patterns of family life. (Jacobson, 2004) The father heads the family. This does not simply mean that the father is the bread-winner of the family. Rather to Indians, this also means that the male family member sustains the extended family. Hence, a married Indian male brings home his wife to be part of his natal household. Thus, the wife has to live with her in-laws together with her children. This also means that the transition of leadership goes from the father to the eldest son, and not to the mother. While the eldes t male heads the family, his wife is in-charged to supervise their daughters-in-law and younger children. Thus, the older generation takes good care of the younger generation, which the latter repays in return. Such family roles put boys at higher esteem than girls. Besides, marriage in Indians is traditionally decided by the socio-economic status of the girl. (Jacobson,

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 76

Assignment - Essay Example their consumption becomes stable with rising demand, these products are expected to be available in normal convenience stores like a bag of chips or chocolates (Entrepreneur Media.inc, â€Å"How Food Makers Are Convincing America to Eat Bugs†). In the discussion henceforth, emphasis will be delivered on specifying the target group for the chosen products along with a succinct rationale to the same. Cricket flour, which is composed of high protein and high nutritional benefits, is considered as a key to a sustainable future. As the product is manufactured from cricket bugs, it is necessary to educate people about the health benefits they will obtain from its consumption, which is also necessary to avoid any negative response from the customers. As the product is quite likely to be beneficial for young individuals suffering from malnutrition and for body builders as well, being in need for high protein consumption, its marketing approach will be targeting this particular group of consumers. However, as the product is manufactured from cricket bugs, the targeted consumer group will be limited within the non-vegetarian food consumers. To be mentioned in this context, young generation consumers are currently observed as highly quality conscious, having lesser significance for price related concerns. This particular group of consumers also deciphers high enthusiastic behavior toward s a new product, which can be highly beneficial for the cricket flour and energy bars intended to be offered. As these people believe in fast lifestyle choices, they are always in need for food products with high nutritional value to keep their body fit and strong. So the products may target this particular section of people, based on its high nutritional value, which will be of considerable advantage to the marketer. Moreover, body builders and people having special interest in sports may also be willing to consume these products, as it is deemed as beneficial for their health. As both